Airlines Are Still Finding Ways To Hit People With Unexpected Fees

By now, consumers are used to shelling out wads of cash for
checked bags, roomier seats and a hot meal.

Those fees are explicitly stated, but there are others lurking
under the radar that have the potential to blindside fliers. The
fees tend to crop up when fliers make last-minute adjustments or
wait to do something, like printing out a boarding pass, at the
airport.

To learn more about these "hidden fees" and how to avoid them, we
spoke to Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, who offered some
insight.

Priority seats "It used to be everyone paid one
flat fee for a flight and had access to every seat," says Klee.
Now airlines are charging extra for premium seats, and the number
of seats you can't purchase is rapidly increasing. "On many
flights," he says, "it's impossible to find a window or aisle
seat without paying."

Cost: Between $10 and $15, depending on the length of the
flight.

Get around it: Don't wait until the last minute (aka when your'e
printing your boarding pass) to arrange your seats. Book them
well in advance, ideally when you've just bought the fare.

Printing the pass "I see all the time where
people are being charged to print out the boarding pass at the
airport," Klee says. "Some airlines in Europe even charge you
more to pay by credit card. This was illegal in the U.S. until
last week." (Note: Klee is referring to the recent
Visa-MasterCard settlement that allows merchants to charge
consumers for using credit.)

Cost: Up to $5, depending on the carrier.

Get around it: Print the boarding pass at home.

Checking bags This fee should come as no
surprise to seasoned travelers, but even they might be blindsided
by the higher fee they're charged to check bags online rather
than at the airport.

Cost: Up to $5 or more, depending on the airline.

Get around it: Consider packing light, waiting to checking your
bag at the airport or, if you're a heavy packer, using a bag shipping service like LugLess, which
transports luggage for a flat fee of $39.